Written by Editorial Team
As a parent, it is quite natural for you to provide only the best for your baby, whether in terms of love, affection, care, or even nutrition. Nutrition, specifically when it comes to feeding your baby, is a matter of concern, especially in the case of your firstborn. Fruits and vegetables are an important part of your baby’s diet, and you must know what you can and cannot safely feed your baby. So are papayas safe for babies?
Papayas are counted among the healthiest fruits due to their high antioxidants, vitamins and mineral content. They are also allergen-free and easy to digest. This article delves deeper into the nutritional value of papaya, the benefits, and how you can choose and feed the right papaya to your little one.
Papaya is a highly nutritious fruit. It contains a unique combination of antioxidants – vitamin C and carotenoids. Single medium-sized papaya is a rich source of Vitamins A, B, and E. Papayas are also a good source of fiber and folic acid.
It is also an excellent source of sodium, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, lycopene, and phosphorus. Papaya is very beneficial for the healthy growth and development of the baby.
Papaya is a relatively safe fruit for your baby as it is not high on the list of potential allergens and therefore, poses less risk of allergies for your little one. However, latex allergy and allergy to papaya are somehow linked. Therefore, in case your baby is having a latex allergy or if you have a family history of latex allergy, you must introduce this fruit to your baby only after consulting with the pediatrician.
You can start giving it to your baby once they turn 7 or 8 months old. It is advisable not to introduce this fruit as one of the first foods for babies. You can safely introduce papaya after the baby gets used to the easily digestible first foods like sweet potato, apple, avocado, banana, etc.
Papaya has a host of health benefits for your little one. Here are six health benefits of papaya for babies.
It works as an aiding agent in the process of metabolism. Feeding your baby papaya on a regular basis can help protect them from potential cardiovascular diseases. Papaya houses an enzyme called folate, which protects the blood vessels and walls from getting damaged.
Papaya is high in fiber and regulates bowel movement. Most babies go through phases of colic and constipation, especially when trying out new foods. If your baby regularly experiences constipation, feed them with mashed papaya. You will quickly notice the difference.
Stomach worms are quite common among babies. If your baby is frequently facing this issue, you can try feeding them papaya after due consultation with the doctor.
Papaya is an excellent digestive agent, not only for adults, but for babies as well. Feed your baby small amounts of papaya regularly. This will help break down the complex food, and your baby won’t suffer from digestive issues so much.
As we all know, a baby’s immune system is immature and is not as fully functional as that of an adult. Papaya is an excellent source of vitamin C and is a great way of improving immunity in your little one. Feed your baby papaya and keep all the diseases away!
Papaya is a rich source of vitamin A. You can use papaya pulp topically for minor skin burns and mild sores/ rashes of your baby. Being rich in vitamin A, papaya enhances the eyesight of the baby.
Now that we know the benefits of papaya, let’s have a look at how to choose and store the best papaya for your little one. Papaya is not as tough as it looks. It has thick skin, but it is a rather delicate fruit.
Generally, papaya is a very safe fruit to give to babies. It has multiple health benefits. However, there are some guidelines to follow while introducing papaya to babies
Papaya can be given alone, or you can even use it along with a variety of other fruits to make delicious purées. Avocados, apples, bananas, peaches, carrots, and yogurt go well with this fruit.
This is one of the least dangerous fruits in terms of pesticide residues. The thick, inedible skin that harbors pesticide residues is peeled before using. However, you should thoroughly wash it before preparing. With so much insight into papaya, it’ll be good to know of ways to feed them to your baby.
Here are a few for you.
If your baby does not show any negative reactions to the fruit, you can give it regularly. Start with less quantity and slowly increase. Never overfeed the baby as it may not go down well.
It is not recommended. Babies start their solid journey only around this age. Their systems need time to get used to digesting foods before you can introduce papaya.
You can give it as a puree. You can mix the puree with other fruit purees too. If your baby is comfortable chewing, give small bite-sized pieces.
Latex allergy can be caused by papaya. This can be hereditary too. Consult your doctor if your baby shows any reaction after eating the fruit.
Giving it fresh is always advisable. However, during the off-season, you can freeze the papaya puree. Let it thaw to room temperature before you can give it to your baby.
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